diff --git a/src/propeller/genome.cljc b/src/propeller/genome.cljc
index c9591fe..9ce9592 100755
--- a/src/propeller/genome.cljc
+++ b/src/propeller/genome.cljc
@@ -22,8 +22,9 @@ They hold the genetic material for an `individual`. In the initial population, w
   ([plushy] (plushy->push plushy {}))
   ([plushy argmap]
    (let [plushy (if (:diploid argmap) (map first (partition 2 plushy)) plushy)
-         plushy (if (> (or (:ah-umad (:variation argmap)) 0) 0) ;; strip :vary and :protect if using :ah-umad
-                  (filter (complement #{:vary :protect}) plushy)
+         plushy (if (or (> (or (:ah-umad (:variation argmap)) 0) 0) ;; must strip :vary and :protect
+                        (> (or (:autoconstructive-crossover (:variation argmap)) 0) 0)) ;; must strip :gene
+                  (filter (complement #{:vary :protect :gene}) plushy)
                   plushy)
          opener? #(and (vector? %) (= (first %) 'open))]    ;; [open <n>] marks opens
      (loop [push ()                                         ;; iteratively build the Push program from the plushy